Cover adaptable to foldable vehicle seats

ABSTRACT

A seat cover for a vehicle may include a lower or bench portion sized and configured to extend over a horizontally-oriented top of a bench of a vehicle seat. The lower portion may include a first section and a second section separated by a slit. The seat cover for the vehicle may also include an upper or backrest portion coupled to the lower portion. The upper portion may be sized and configured to extend upwardly over a backrest of the vehicle seat.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.16/526,709, filed Jul. 30, 2019, which is a continuation of Ser. No.15/847,845, filed Dec. 19, 2017, which has now issued as U.S. Pat. No.10,363,847, and which is a continuation of Ser. No. 15/650,438, filedJul. 14, 2017, which has now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 9,845,033, each ofwhich is incorporated herein by reference, in their entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A vehicle seat may include a backrest, which may include one or moreupper sections, and a bench, which may include one or more lowersections. The vehicle seat may be designed to move between variousconfigurations in order to, for example, allow items of various sizes tobe transported in the vehicle. In some instances, one or more of theupper sections may be folded up and one or more other upper sections maybe folded down. In some instances, one or more lower sections may befolded up while one or more other lower sections are folded down.

A cover for a vehicle seat and/or a cargo bed may be limited to aparticular type of car, with particular dimensions and features, or aparticular seat configuration. In some cases, the cover may not permitmovement of the vehicle seat between the various configurations or maycover various features, such as seat belts. In order to perform aparticular function in the vehicle, the cover may need to be removed.Further, vehicle seats may be exposed to various events that may damagethe vehicle seats due to, for example, pets, children, spills, objects,etc.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a cover for an interior of a vehicle.In particular, the present invention relates to a cover adaptable tomultiple vehicle seat configurations. In some embodiments, the cover forthe vehicle may include a seat cover. In some embodiments, the cover mayinclude a lower portion, which may be sized and configured to extendover a horizontally-oriented top of a bench of a vehicle seat.

In some embodiments, the lower portion may include multiple sections. Insome embodiments, the lower portion may include a first section and asecond section, which may be separated by a slit. In some embodiments,the slit may be configured to allow the first section to be disposed inan upward position and the second section to be disposed in a downwardposition when the bench is disposed in a first configuration. In someembodiments, the slit may be configured to allow the first section to bedisposed in a downward position and the second section to be disposed inan upward position when the bench is disposed in a second configuration.

In some embodiments, the cover may also include an upper portion coupledto the lower portion. In some embodiments, the upper portion may besized and configured to extend upwardly over a backrest of the vehicleseat. In some embodiments, the first section of the lower portion mayextend from a lower edge of the upper portion to a front edge of thelower portion and/or the second section of the lower portion may extendfrom the lower edge of the upper portion to the front edge of the lowerportion.

In some embodiments, the cover may include a coupling mechanism, whichmay be configured to selectively couple the first section to the secondsection. In some embodiments, the coupling mechanism may include a hook,a button, a zipper, a snap, a magnet, a clasp, an eyelet, a hook, a hookand loop fastener, such as VELCRO™, or another suitable couplingmechanism. In some embodiments, an underside of the lower portion mayinclude a pocket configured to be secured around a portion of the bench.

In some embodiments, the lower portion may include a third section,which may be separated from the second section of the lower portion byanother slit. In some embodiments, the third section may extend from thelower edge of the upper portion to the front edge of the lower portion.In some embodiments, the cover may include another coupling mechanism,which may be configured to selectively couple the second section of thelower portion to the third section of the lower portion. In someembodiments, the other coupling mechanism may include a hook, a button,a zipper, a snap, a magnet, a clasp, an eyelet, a hook, a hook and loopfastener, such as VELCRO™, or another suitable coupling mechanism.

In some embodiments, the cover may include a guard portion, which may becoupled to the front edge of the lower portion. In some embodiments, theslit and/or the other slit may extend through the guard portion. In someembodiments, the lower portion may be disposed between the upper portionand the guard portion.

In some embodiments, widths of the first section of the lower portion,the second section of the lower portion, and the third portion of thelower portion may vary depending on, for example, a particular seatconfiguration and dimensions of the vehicle. For example, a width of thefirst section of the lower portion may be approximately 20% of a totalwidth of the seat cover, a width of the second section of the lowerportion may be approximately 40% percent of the total width of the seatcover, and a width of the third section of the lower portion may beapproximately 20% of the total width of the seat cover. As anotherexample, the width of the first section may be approximately half of thetotal width of the seat cover, and a width of the second section may beapproximately half of the total width of the seat cover. As a furtherexample, a width of the first section may be approximately 40% of thetotal width of the seat cover, and a width of the second section may beapproximately 60% of the total width of the seat cover. Further still, afirst group of one or more sections of the seat cover may comprise acombined width of approximately 20%, 40%, or 50% of the total width ofthe seat cover, and a second group of one or more sections of the seatcover may comprise a combined width of approximately 20%, 40%, 50%, or60% of the total width of the seat cover.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

In order that the manner in which the above-recited and other featuresand advantages of the invention are obtained will be readily understood,a more particular description of the invention briefly described abovewill be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof which areillustrated in the appended drawings. These drawings depict only typicalembodiments of the invention and are not therefore to be considered tolimit the scope of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a top view of an example cover, according to some embodiments;

FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the example cover of FIG. 1 , according tosome embodiments;

FIG. 3 is a top view of a portion of the example cover of FIG. 1 ,illustrating a first section and a third section of an upper portion ofthe cover uncoupled from a second portion of the upper portion via thefirst and second coupling mechanisms, according to some embodiments;

FIG. 4 is an upper perspective view of the cover of FIG. 1 ,illustrating the cover extending over a bench and backrest of a vehicleseat in one configuration, according to some embodiments;

FIG. 5 is an upper perspective view of the cover of FIG. 1 ,illustrating the cover extending over the bench and the backrest of thevehicle seat in another configuration, according to some embodiments;

FIG. 6 is an upper perspective view of the cover of FIG. 1 ,illustrating the cover extending over the bench and the backrest of thevehicle seat in another configuration, according to some embodiments;

FIG. 7A is an upper perspective view of the cover of FIG. 1 ,illustrating the cover extending over the bench and the backrest of thevehicle seat in another configuration, according to some embodiments;

FIG. 7B is an upper perspective view of the cover of FIG. 1 ,illustrating the cover extending over the bench and the backrest of thevehicle seat in another configuration, according to some embodiments;

FIG. 8A is a top view of another example cover, illustrating the coverdisassembled, according to some embodiments;

FIG. 8B is a bottom view of the cover of FIG. 8A, illustrating the coverdisassembled, according to some embodiments;

FIG. 8C is a top view of the cover of FIG. 8A, according to someembodiments;

FIG. 9A is a top view of another example cover, illustrating the coverdisassembled, according to some embodiments;

FIG. 9B is a bottom view of the cover of FIG. 9A, illustrating the coverdisassembled, according to some embodiments;

FIG. 9C is a top view of the cover of FIG. 9A, according to someembodiments; and

FIG. 9D is a top view of a cover comprising only upper and lowerportions, according to come embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The presently preferred embodiments of the present invention will bebest understood by reference to the drawings, wherein like referencenumbers indicate identical or functionally similar elements. It will bereadily understood that the components of the present invention, asgenerally described and illustrated in the figures herein, could bearranged and designed in a wide variety of different configurations.Thus, the following more detailed description, as represented in thefigures, is not intended to limit the scope of the invention as claimed,but is merely representative of presently preferred embodiments of theinvention.

Referring now to FIG. 1 , in some embodiments, the cover 10 for thevehicle may include a seat cover. In some embodiments, the cover 10 mayinclude a lower portion 12, which also may be described as a benchportion. In some embodiments, the cover 10 may also include an upperportion 14 coupled to the lower portion 12, wherein the upper portion 14may also be described as a backrest portion.

In some embodiments, the upper portion 14 may include one or moresections. For example, the upper portion 14 may include one or more ofthe following: a first section 16, a second section 18, and a thirdsection 20. In some embodiments, one or more of the following may extendfrom an upper edge 22 of the upper portion 14 to the lower portion 12 orto a position proximate to the lower portion 12: the first section 16,the second section 18, and the third section 20. In some embodiments,the sections of the upper portion 14 may be separated by one or moreslits. For example, the first and second sections 16, 18 may beseparated by a first slit 24 and/or the second and third sections 18, 20may be separated by a second slit 26.

In some embodiments, the slits of the upper portion 14 may be at leastpartially closed via one or more coupling mechanisms. In someembodiments, the cover 10 may include a first coupling mechanism, whichmay be configured to directly couple the first section 16 and the secondsection 18. In some embodiments, the first coupling mechanism may beconfigured to at least partially close the first slit 24, which mayextend from the upper edge 22 to the lower portion 12. In someembodiments, the cover 10 may include a second coupling mechanism, whichmay be configured to directly couple the second section 18 and the thirdsection 20. In some embodiments, the second coupling mechanism may beconfigured to at least partially close the second slit 26, which mayextend from the upper edge 22 to the lower portion 12, or to a positionproximate to lower portion 12.

In some embodiments, the upper portion 14 may include one or morefasteners 28 configured to secure the cover 10 to the seat. In someembodiments, one or more of the following may include at least onefastener 28: an upper portion of the first section 16, an upper portionof the second section 18, and an upper portion of the third section 20.In some embodiments, the fasteners 28 may be configured to secure thecover 10 to one or more headrests of the vehicle. In some embodiments,the upper portion of the first section 16 and the upper portion of thethird section 20 may include a fastener 28. Each of the fasteners 28 mayinclude any suitable means of securing the cover 10 to the seat. Forexample, as illustrated in FIG. 1 , each of the fasteners 28 may includea belt, which may be configured to form a loop around the headrest. Insome embodiments, the loop may include a clasp.

In some embodiments, the cover 10 may include one or more openingsdisposed between the upper portion 14 and the lower portion 12. In someembodiments, the one or more openings may include one or more of thefollowing: a first opening 30, a second opening 32, a third opening 34,and a fourth opening 36. In some embodiments, one or more of the firstopening 30, the second opening 32, the third opening 34, and the fourthopening 36 may include a generally horizontal slit. In some embodiments,the first opening 30 may extend along a portion of a lower edge of thefirst section 16 to at least the second section 18. In some embodiments,the first opening 30 may extend along the portion of the lower edge ofthe first section to the third section 20. In these embodiments, inresponse to the first section 16 being uncoupled from the second section18 via the first coupling mechanism and the third section 20 beinguncoupled from the second section 18 via the second coupling mechanism,the second section 18 may be detached or removed from the cover 10.

In some embodiments, the second opening 32 may extend along a portion ofa lower edge of the third section 20 to at least the second section 18.In some embodiments, the second opening 32 may extend along the portionof the lower edge of the third section 20 to the first section 16. Inthese embodiments, in response to the third section 20 being uncoupledfrom the second section 18 via the second coupling mechanism and thefirst section 16 being uncoupled from the second section 18 via thefirst coupling mechanism, the second section 18 may be detached orremoved from the cover 10. In some embodiments, the first section 16 maybe folded over fold line 35 and/or the third section 20 may be foldedover fold line 37.

In some embodiments, the third opening 34 may be disposed between thefirst section 16 and the lower portion 12. In some embodiments, thefourth opening 36 may be disposed between the third section 20 and thelower portion 12. In some embodiments, one or more of the first opening34, the second opening 32, the third opening 34, and the fourth opening36 may be configured to receive a seat belt and/or a fastener used toanchor a child car seat.

In some embodiments, the cover 10 may be constructed of a fabricmaterial, such as, for example, one or more of the following: spandexknit, lycra knit, jersey knit, interlock knit, ribbed knit, terry knit,sweater knit, modal knit, hemp knit, bamboo knit, silk knit, cottonknit, ponte de roma, thermal knit, stretch lace, synthetic knit, organicknit, polyvinyl chloride, cotton, nylon, polyester, etc. In someembodiments, the fabric material may be stretchable. In someembodiments, the fabric material may be weather-proof and/ormachine-washable.

In some embodiments, the cover 10 may include a guard portion 38, whichmay be coupled to a lower edge 40 of the lower portion 12. In someembodiments, the guard portion 28 may be selectively coupled to thelower edge 40. In some embodiments, when the cover 10 is used as theseat cover, the guard portion 38 may be configured to extend verticallyand/or generally perpendicularly from the lower portion 12. In someembodiments, the guard portion 38 may include one or more fasteners 42,which may be configured to secure the cover 10 to the seat of thevehicle. Each of the fasteners 42 may include any suitable means ofsecuring the cover 10 to the seat. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 1, each of the fasteners 42 may include a belt, which may be configuredto form a loop around a portion of the seat, such as a leg. In someembodiments, the loop may include a clasp.

In some embodiments, the cover 10 may be configured to hang similar to ahammock between one or more headrests disposed on front seats of thevehicle and one or more headrests disposed on back seats of the vehicle.For example, each of the fasteners 28 may be coupled with the head restsdisposed on the front seats of the vehicle and each of the fasteners 42may be coupled with the head rests disposed on the back seats of thevehicle. In these embodiments, the lower portion 12 may hang lower thanthe upper portion 14 and/or the guard portion 38.

In some embodiments, the lower portion 12 may include one or moresections. In some embodiments, the sections of the lower portion 12 maybe separated by one or more slits 43. In some embodiments, the slits 43may extend through the lower portion 12 and/or the guard portion 38.FIG. 1 illustrates a particular lower portion 12 that includes a firstsection 45 and a second section 47 separated by a particular slit 43that extends through the lower portion 12 and the guard portion 38.

In some embodiments, the slits 43 may be at least partially closed viaone or more coupling mechanisms. In some embodiments, the couplingmechanisms may each include any suitable coupling mechanism, such as forexample, zippers, buttons, snaps, magnets, clasps, eyelets, hooks, ahook and loop fastener, such as VELCRO™, etc. In some embodiments, aparticular slit 43 may be aligned with the first slit 24, the secondslit 26, or another slit of the upper portion 14. As illustrated in FIG.1 , in some embodiments, a particular slit 43 may not be aligned withthe first slit 24, the second slit 26, or another slit of the upperportion 14. In some embodiments, alignment between the slits 43 and thefirst slit 24, the second slit 26, or another slit of the upper portion14 may be dependent on a configuration of the bench and the backrest ofthe vehicle seat.

In some embodiments, the vehicle seat may include a backrest, which mayinclude one or more upper sections, and a bench, which may include oneor more lower sections. The vehicle seat may be designed to move betweenvarious configurations in order to, for example, allow items of varioussizes to be transported in the vehicle. In some embodiments, one or moreupper sections of the backrest may be folded up and/or one or more otherupper sections of the backrest may be folded down. In these and otherembodiments, one or more lower sections of the bench may be folded upand/or one or more other lower sections of the bench may be folded down.In some embodiments, the slits 43 may facilitate folding up of one ormore of the lower sections of the bench of the vehicle seat.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2 , in some embodiments, the cover 10 mayinclude a first layer 44 of the fabric material and a second layer 46 ofthe fabric material, which may be sewn together. In some embodiments,padding may be disposed between at least a portion of the first andsecond layers 38, 40 of the fabric material. In some embodiments, theguard portion 38 may or may not include the padding. In someembodiments, the guard portion 38 may include a single layer of thefabric material.

Referring now to FIG. 2 , in some embodiments, the cover 10 may includeanother layer or backing layer 48, which may be disposed on at least aportion of an underside of the cover 10. For example, the backing layer48 may be disposed on an underside of the lower portion 12 and/or theupper portion 14. In some embodiments, the cover 10 may be used as acargo bed cover, an example of which is described in U.S. Pat. No.9,610,877, filed Jul. 20, 2016, entitled “Cover Adaptable to MultipleVehicle Seat Configurations,” which is herein incorporated by referencein its entirety. In some embodiments, when the cover 10 is used as acargo bed cover, for example, the backing layer 48 may be disposed on anunderside of the lower and upper portions 12, 14.

In some embodiments, when the cover 10 is used as the seat cover, thebacking layer 48 may be disposed on the underside of the lower portion12. In some embodiments, the backing layer 48 may be configured toprevent slippage and/or increase friction between the cover 10 and theseat and/or the cargo bed. In some embodiments, the backing layer 48 mayinclude a netting. In some embodiments, the backing layer 48 may beconstructed of rubber, plastic, or another suitable material that allowsthe cover 10 to be flexible and/or foldable. In some embodiments, thecover 10 may include a water-proof coating. In some embodiments, one ormore anchors 50 may be coupled to the underside of the cover 10. In someembodiments, the anchors 50 may be configured to be tucked into a creasein the seat between the backrest and the bench of the seat. In someembodiments, the anchors 50 may be loop-shaped.

In some embodiments, one or more of the following may extend alongsubstantially all of a height of the upper portion 14: the first slit24, the second slit 26, the first coupling mechanism, and the secondcoupling mechanism. In some embodiments, the upper portion 14 mayinclude any number of slits and/or coupling mechanisms that may extendalong substantially all of the height of the upper portion 14.

In some embodiments, the guard portion 38 may include or more guardcoupling mechanisms, which may facilitate rolling or folding of theguard portion 38. For example, one or more first guard couplingmechanisms 49 may be disposed towards or proximate the lower portion 12and one or more second guard coupling mechanisms 51 may be disposedtowards or proximate an end or lower edge of the guard portion 38 suchthat the guard portion 38 may be folded as illustrated, for example, inFIGS. 4-6 . In some embodiments, the one or more guard couplingmechanisms 49, 51 may be disposed on a bottom or underside of the guardportion 38. In some embodiments, the cover 10 may not include the guardportion 38. A floor 63 of the vehicle is also illustrated in FIGS. 4-6 ,according to some embodiments.

The guard coupling mechanisms 49, 51 illustrated in FIG. 2 are hook andloop fasteners. However, the guard coupling mechanisms 49, 51 may eachinclude any suitable coupling mechanisms, such as for example, buttons,snaps, magnets, clasps, eyelets, hooks, etc. Guard coupling mechanismsmay be disposed at any number of locations on the guard portion 38 tofacilitate rolling or folding of the guard portion.

In some embodiments, the underside of the lower portion 12 may includeone or more pockets or pouches 57 configured to hold one or more of thelower sections of the bench of the vehicle seat, as will be explainedlater in further detail. In some embodiments, edges of the pockets maybe coupled with the lower portion 12. For example, the edges of thepockets may be coupled to the backing layer 48. In some embodiments, theedges of the pockets may be coupled to the lower portion 12 via sewingor another suitable method. In some embodiments, the pouches 57 mayinclude an elastic material, such as, for example, an elastic band 61,which may facilitate a secure fit of the pouches 57 around one or moreof the lower sections of the bench disposed within openings 55 of thepouches 57.

In some embodiments, a particular coupling mechanism may extend along atleast a portion of a particular slit disposed in the upper portion 14.For example, referring now to FIG. 3 , the first coupling mechanism 52may extend along at least a portion of the first slit 24 and/or thesecond coupling mechanism 54 may extend along at least a portion of thesecond slit 26. The first and second coupling mechanisms 52, 54 may eachinclude any suitable coupling mechanisms, such as for example, buttons,snaps, magnets, clasps, eyelets, hooks, a hook and loop fastener, etc.In some embodiments, the first and second coupling mechanisms 52, 54 mayinclude zippers, as illustrated in FIG. 3 .

In some embodiments, a third coupling mechanism 60 may be configured toat least partially close the first opening 30. In some embodiments, afourth coupling mechanism 59 may be configured to at least partiallyclose the second opening 32. In some embodiments, the third couplingmechanism 60 may extend along at least a portion of the first opening30. In some embodiments, the fourth coupling mechanism 59 may extendalong at least a portion of the second opening 32. In some embodiments,the third coupling mechanism 60 and/or the fourth coupling mechanism 59may each include any suitable coupling mechanisms, such as for example,buttons, snaps, magnets, clasps, etc. In some embodiments, the thirdcoupling mechanism 60 and/or the fourth coupling mechanism may bedisposed in a crease or seam between the lower portion 12 and the upperportion 14.

In some embodiments, the third coupling mechanism 60 and/or the fourthcoupling mechanism 59 may include a hook and loop fastener, asillustrated in FIG. 3 , which may allow the first opening 30 and/or thesecond opening 32 to partially open to access a seatbelt. Couplingmechanisms the same as or similar to the first coupling mechanism 52,the second coupling mechanism 54, the third coupling mechanism 60, orthe fourth coupling mechanism 59, may be used to close or partiallyclose the third opening 34 and/or the fourth opening 36. In someembodiments, one or more of the following may be eliminated: the firstcoupling mechanism 52, the second coupling mechanism 54, the thirdcoupling mechanism 60, and the fourth coupling mechanism 59. In someembodiments, the cover 10 may not include one or more of the following:the first coupling mechanism 52, the second coupling mechanism 54, thethird coupling mechanism 59, and the fourth coupling mechanism 60.

Referring now to FIGS. 4-6 , in some embodiments, the lower portion 12may be sized and configured to extend over a horizontally-oriented topof the bench 56 of a vehicle seat. In some embodiments, a third uppersection 58 of the backrest may be configured to be folded on top of thelower portion 12 independently of the first and second sections 16, 18in response to the third section 20 being uncoupled from the secondsection 18 via the second coupling mechanism 54. In some embodiments,when the cover 10 is used as the seat cover, the third section 20 may beconfigured to be folded on top of the lower portion 12 independently ofthe first and second sections 16, 18 in response to the third section 20being uncoupled from the second section 18 via the second couplingmechanism 54 and/or the third upper section 58 of the backrest beingmoved to a folded position.

In some embodiments, the third coupling mechanism 60 may be configuredto at least partially close the first opening 30. In some embodiments,as illustrated in FIG. 4 , the third coupling mechanism 60 may beconfigured to partially close the first opening 30 such that a seat belt62 may extend through the first opening 30. In some embodiments, thefourth coupling mechanism 59 may be configured the same as or similar tothe third coupling mechanism 60.

In some embodiments, a fastener 64 may be configured to, for example,anchor a child car seat and may extend through the third opening 34and/or the fourth opening 36. In some embodiments, each of the fasteners28 may be configured to secure the cover 10 to a headrest 66 of thevehicle. In some embodiments, the slits may be generally vertical orupright when the cover 10 is secured to and covers the vehicle seat, asillustrated, for example, in FIG. 4 .

As illustrated in FIG. 5 , in some embodiments, the second section 18may be configured to be folded on top of the lower portion 12independently of the first and third sections 16, 20 in response to thefirst section 16 being uncoupled from the second section 18 via thefirst coupling mechanism 52 and the third section 20 being uncoupledfrom the second section 18 via the second coupling mechanism 54. In someembodiments, when the cover 10 is used as the seat cover, the secondsection 18 may be configured to be folded on top of the lower portion 12independently of the first and third sections 16, 20 in response to thefirst section 16 being uncoupled from the second section 18 via thefirst coupling mechanism 52 and the third section 54 being uncoupledfrom the second section 18 via the second coupling mechanism 54, andfurther in response to a second upper section 68 of the backrest beingmoved to a folded position, as illustrated in FIG. 5 . In someembodiments, the second upper section 68 of the backrest may correspondto an arm rest or a person location.

As illustrated in FIG. 6 , in some embodiments, the first section 16 maybe configured to be folded on top of the lower portion 12 independentlyof the second and third sections 18, 20 in response to the first section16 being uncoupled from the second section 18 via the first couplingmechanism 52. In some embodiments, when the cover 10 is used as the seatcover, the first section 16 may be configured to be folded on top of thelower portion 12 independently of the second and third sections 18, 20in response to the first section 16 being uncoupled from the secondsection 18 via the first coupling mechanism 52 and/or a first uppersection 70 of the backrest being moved to a folded position.

Referring now to FIGS. 7A-7B, in some embodiments, the bench 56 of thevehicle seat may include multiple lower sections. In some embodiments,the bench 56 may include two, three, four, five, or more lower sections,and the lower portion 12 may include a corresponding section for eachlower section of the bench 56. For example, as illustrated in FIG.7A-7B, the bench 56 may include a first lower section 72 and a secondlower section 74. In some embodiments, the lower sections of the bench56 may be configured to move upwardly and/or to generally verticalstorage positions in order to, for example, allow items of various sizesto be transported in the vehicle. In further detail, in someembodiments, one or more lower sections may be folded up when one ormore other lower sections are folded down. As illustrated in FIG. 7A, insome embodiments, the first section 72 may be folded up when the secondsection 74 is folded down. As illustrated in FIG. 7B, in someembodiments, the first section 72 may be folded down when the secondsection 74 is folded up.

In some embodiments, the one or more slits 43 of the lower portion 12may facilitate folding up of one or more of the lower sections of thebench 56 of the vehicle seat. In some embodiments, the slits 43 maydivide the lower portion 12 and/or the guard portion 38 into multiplesections. For example, as illustrated in FIGS. 7A-7B, the slit 43 maydivide the lower portion 12 into a first section 76 and a second section78. Additionally, in some embodiments, the slit 43 may divide the guardportion into a first section 80 and a second section 82.

In some embodiments, the slits 43 of the lower portion 12 may eachinclude one or more coupling mechanisms 86 that may extend along atleast a portion of the corresponding slit 43. In some embodiments, theslits 43 of the lower portion 12 may be at least partially closed viathe coupling mechanisms 86. In some embodiments, the one or morecoupling mechanisms 86 may include any suitable coupling mechanisms,such as for example, buttons, snaps, magnets, clasps, eyelets, hooks, ahook and loop fastener, etc. In some embodiments, the couplingmechanisms 86 may include zippers, as illustrated, for example, in FIGS.7A-7B.

The lower portion 12 may include any number of slits 43, and thus,sections. In some embodiments, the number of slits 43 may be one lessthan a number of lower sections of the bench 56. In some embodiments,the slits 43 may extend from the upper portion 14 entirely through thelower portion 12 and/or the guard portion 38. In some embodiments, theslits 43 may extend from a position proximate to the upper portion 14entirely through the lower portion 12 and/or the guard portion 38.

In some embodiments, a particular slit 43 may divide the lower portion12 such that the lower portion 12 includes a particular first sectionwith a width approximately equal to a first percentage of an total width84 (illustrated in FIGS. 1-3 , for example) of the lower portion 12 anda particular second section with a width approximately equal to a secondpercentage of the total width 84 of the lower portion 12. For example, aparticular slit 43 may divide the lower portion 12 such that the lowerportion 12 includes a particular first section with a widthapproximately equal to 50% of an total width 84 of the lower portion 12and a particular second section with a width approximately equal to 50%of the total width 84 of the lower portion 12, as illustrated in FIGS.8A-8B, for example. As another example, a particular slit 43 may dividethe lower portion 12 such that the lower portion 12 includes aparticular first section with a width approximately equal to 60% of antotal width 84 of the lower portion 12 and a particular second sectionwith a width approximately equal to 40% of the total width 84 of thelower portion 12. As yet another example, a particular slit 43 maydivide the lower portion 12 such that the lower portion 12 includes aparticular first section with a width approximately equal to 70% of antotal width 84 of the lower portion 12 and a particular second sectionwith a width approximately equal to 30% of the total width 84 of thelower portion 12.

In some embodiments, a particular first slit 43 and a particular secondslit 43 may divide the lower portion 12 such that the lower portion 12includes a particular first section with a width approximately equal toa first percentage of an total width 84 of the lower portion 12, aparticular second section with a width approximately equal to a secondpercentage of the total width 84 of the lower portion 12, and aparticular third section with a width approximately equal to a thirdpercentage of the total width 84 of the lower portion 12. For example, aparticular first slit 43 and a particular second slit 43 may divide thelower portion 12 such that the lower portion 12 includes a particularfirst section with a width approximately equal to 40% of an total width84 of the lower portion 12, a particular second section with a widthapproximately equal to 20% of the total width 84 of the lower portion12, and a particular third section with a width approximately equal to40% of the total width 84 of the lower portion 12. In some embodiments,the particular second section may be disposed between the particularfirst and third sections of the lower portion 12.

As another example, as illustrated in FIGS. 9A-9C, a particular firstslit 43 and a particular second slit 43 may divide the lower portion 12such that the lower portion 12 includes a particular first section witha width approximately equal to one third of an total width 84 of thelower portion 12, a particular second section with a width approximatelyequal to one third of the total width 84 of the lower portion 12, and aparticular third section with a width approximately equal to one thirdof the total width 84 of the lower portion 12. In some embodiments, theparticular second section may be disposed between the particular firstand third sections of the lower portion 12.

Referring now to FIGS. 8-9 , in some embodiments, the lower portion 12may include multiple sections. In some embodiments, the multiplesections of the lower portion 12 may be coupled to one or more sectionsof the upper portion 14 via one or more other coupling mechanisms 88,which may include any suitable coupling mechanism, such as for example,buttons, snaps, magnets, clasps, eyelets, hooks, zippers, etc. In someembodiments, the coupling mechanisms 88 may include a hook and loopfastener, such as VELCRO™, as illustrated, for example, in FIGS. 8-9 .In some embodiments, the coupling mechanisms 88 may extend along atleast a portion of a border between the lower portion 12 and the upperportion 14. In some embodiments, the coupling mechanisms 88 may bedisposed on the underside and/or the top of the cover 10. In someembodiments, the coupling mechanisms 88 may facilitate selectivecoupling between one or more sections of the upper portion 14 and one ormore sections of the lower portion 12. In some embodiments, an examplecover 90 and an example cover 100 illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9 ,respectively, may correspond to the cover 10, illustrated in FIGS. 1-7 .

In some embodiments, a kit may include multiple sections that may becoupled together to form the lower portion 12. In some embodiments, themultiple sections that may be coupled together to form the lower portion12 may have different sizes or widths, and a user may couple any of themultiple sections together based on the particular seat configurationand dimensions of the vehicle of the user. For example, the kit mayinclude a combination of sections of FIGS. 8 and 9 to form the lowerportion 12. In some embodiments, as illustrated, for example, in FIGS.9A-9C, both outer edges of one each of the multiple sections of thelower portion 12 may include the coupling mechanism 86 to facilitatecoupling of any of the multiple sections of the lower portion 12 in anyorder to correspond to a particular seat configuration and dimensions ofthe vehicle.

In some embodiments, the kit may similarly include multiple sectionsthat may be coupled together to form the upper portion 14. In someembodiments, the multiple sections of the upper portion 14 may havedifferent sizes or widths. In some embodiments, the sections of theupper portion 14 may be coupled together via one or more couplingmechanisms, such as, for example, the first coupling mechanism 52 and/orthe second coupling mechanisms 54.

Referring now to FIG. 9D, in some embodiments cover 100 only compriseslower portion 12 and upper portion 14, wherein cover 100 is providedwithout guard portion 38. Further, in some embodiments cover 100 onlycomprises lower portion 12, wherein cover 100 is provided without upperportion 14 or guard portion 38. Further still, in some embodiments cover100 comprises only lower portion 12 and guard portion 38, wherein cover100 is provided without upper portion 14. Thus, cover 100 may beprovided in a variety of configurations and setups within the scope andteaching of the present invention.

One of skill in the art will appreciate that the various features andelements of the various embodiments of the present invention may bemodified and/or combined within the spirit of the present invention toprovide a seat cover. For example, the size, dimensions, shapes,proportions and materials of the present invention may be modified asdesired or necessary based on, for example, a vehicle configuration,shape, or dimensions. For example, quantity and/or placement of one ormore slits in the upper portion 14 and/or the lower portion 12 may bevaried. As another example, quantity and/or placement of one or moreopenings, such as the first opening 30, the second opening 32, the thirdopening 34, and/or the fourth opening 36 may be varied. In someembodiments, a particular cover, such as, for example, the cover 10, thecover 90, or the cover 100, may be configured to fit various vehicleinteriors and seat configurations, as described in the presentdisclosure.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms withoutdeparting from its structures, methods, or other essentialcharacteristics as broadly described herein and claimed hereinafter.Therefore, the described embodiments are to be considered in allrespects only as illustrative, and not restrictive. The scope of theinvention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims, rather thanby the foregoing description. All changes that come within the meaningand range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within theirscope.

What is claimed is:
 1. A vehicle seat cover comprising: a bench portionadapted to extend over a bench of a vehicle seat, the bench portionconsisting essentially of: a bench front edge extending between a firstbench side edge and a second bench side edge; a bench rear edgeextending between the first bench side edge and the second bench sideedge, the bench rear edge opposite the bench front edge; a single slithaving a closed end proximal to the bench rear edge, the single slitdividing the bench portion into a first flap having a first flap width,and a second flap having a second flap width, wherein the second flapwidth is greater than the first flap width; and a means for attachingthe vehicle seat cover to the vehicle seat; and a guard portion coupledto the bench front edge and consisting essentially of: a guard frontedge opposite the bench front edge, wherein the single slit is furtherpositioned in the guard portion, the single slit further having an openend opening out through the guard front edge, the single slit dividingthe guard portion into a third flap having a third flap width and afourth flap having a fourth flap width, wherein the fourth flap width isgreater than the first flap width, wherein each of the first bench sideedge, the second bench side edge, a first guard side edge, and a secondguard side edge is a free-end edge.
 2. The cover of claim 1, wherein thethird flap width is approximately equal to the first flap width, andwherein the fourth flap width is approximately equal to the second flapwidth.
 3. The cover of claim 1, further comprising: a coupling mechanismconfigured to selectively couple the first flap to the second flap, andselectively couple the third flap to the fourth flap.
 4. The cover ofclaim 3, wherein the coupling mechanism is a zipper.
 5. The cover ofclaim 1, wherein the means for attaching comprises an anchor.
 6. Thecover of claim 1, wherein the means for attaching comprises a strap. 7.The cover of claim 1, wherein the means for attaching comprises apocket.
 8. The cover of claim 1, wherein the means for attachingcomprises a loop.
 9. The cover of claim 1, wherein the means forattaching is positioned on the bench rear edge.
 10. The cover of claim1, wherein the means for attaching is positioned on the first bench sideedge.
 11. The cover of claim 1, wherein the means for attaching ispositioned on the second bench side edge.
 12. A method for covering abench of a vehicle seat, comprising: providing a vehicle seat cover,comprising: a bench portion adapted to extend over a bench of a vehicleseat, said bench portion consisting essentially of: a bench front edgeextending between a first bench side edge and a second bench side edge;a bench rear edge extending between the first bench side edge and thesecond bench side edge, the bench rear edge opposite the bench frontedge; a single slit having a closed end proximal to the bench rear edge,the single slit dividing the bench portion into a first flap having afirst flap width, and a second flap having a second flap width, whereinthe second flap width is greater than the first flap width; and a meansfor attaching the vehicle seat cover to the vehicle seat; and a guardportion coupled to the bench front edge and consisting essentially of: aguard front edge opposite the bench front edge, wherein the single slitis further positioned in the guard portion, the single slit furtherhaving an open end opening out through the guard front edge, the singleslit dividing the guard portion into a third flap having a third flapwidth and a fourth flap having a fourth flap width, wherein the fourthflap width is greater than the first flap width, wherein each of thefirst bench side edge, the second bench side edge, a first guard sideedge, and a second guard side edge is a free-end edge; and securing thecover to the bench of the vehicle seat.
 13. The method of claim 12,further comprising: aligning the single slit with a partition of thebench of the vehicle seat, wherein the partition divides a firstarticulable section of the bench of the vehicle seat from a secondarticulable section of the bench of the vehicle seat.
 14. The method ofclaim 13, wherein the first articulable section is wider than the secondarticulable section.
 15. The method of claim 12, wherein the guardportion is selectively coupled to the bench front edge.
 16. The methodof claim 12, further comprising: attaching a coupling mechanism to thesingle slit, wherein the coupling mechanism is configured to selectivelycouple the first flap to the second flap, and selectively couple thethird flap to the fourth flap.
 17. The method of claim 16, wherein thecoupling mechanism is a zipper.
 18. A vehicle seat cover, comprising: ahorizontal portion adapted to extend over a horizontal section of avehicle seat, the horizontal portion consisting essentially of: ahorizontal front edge extending from a first horizontal side edge to asecond horizontal side edge; a horizontal rear edge extending from thefirst horizontal side edge to the second horizontal side edge; thehorizontal rear edge opposite the horizontal front edge; a single slithaving a closed end proximal to the horizontal rear edge, the singleslit dividing the horizontal portion into a first flap having a firstflap width, and a second flap having a second flap width, wherein thesecond flap width is greater than the first flap width; and a means forattaching the vehicle seat cover to the vehicle seat; and a verticalportion coupled to the horizontal front edge of the horizontal portion,the vertical portion consisting essentially of: a vertical front edgeopposite the horizontal front edge, wherein the single slit is furtherpositioned in the vertical portion, the single slit further comprisingan open end on the vertical front edge, the single slit dividing thevertical portion into a third flap having a third flap width and afourth flap having a fourth flap width, wherein the fourth flap width isgreater than the first flap width, wherein each of the first horizontalside edge, the second horizontal side edge, a first vertical side edge,and a second vertical side edge are a free-end edge.
 19. The cover ofclaim 18, wherein the third flap width is approximately equal to thefirst flap width, and wherein the fourth flap width is approximatelyequal to the second flap width.
 20. The cover of claim 18, furthercomprising: a coupling mechanism configured to selectively couple thefirst flap to the second flap, and selectively couple the third flap tothe fourth flap.